content summary

Question 1

having looked at Heath’s victory in 1970 what two key things was it down to:
(wilson’s defeat)

Answer 1

-Wilson’s defeat was, in part, down to his failure to ‘deal’ with the unions, particularly the failure of in place of strife

Question 2

having looked at Heath’s victory in 1970 what two key things was it down to:

Answer 2

-Heath’s manifesto promised that he could and would reform the unions when he was in power

Question 3

Industrial Relations Act 1971
aimed to curb the power of the unions by:

Answer 3

• making pre-strike ballots necessary
  -making sympathetic strikes illegal
  -only allowing registered unions to strike
  -establishing an industrial relations court to enforce these measures

Question 4

industry act 1972

Answer 4

establishes three-way agreement (between government,unions and business) on price and wages

Question 5

reaction to legislation :
Miner’s strike(jan 1972)

Answer 5

-demand 43% pay increase
-Heath forced to increase pay by 21% (Wilberforce Committee recommendation) due to the impact of blackouts and the three-day week

Question 6

reaction to legislation:
Pentonville 5

Answer 6

-five shop stewards jailed in july 1972 by the national industrial relations court for refusing to obey a court order to stop picketing a container depot in East London
-their arrest + imprisonment led to Trade Unions Congress (TUC) calling a general strike